Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has frozen the assets of Lipscomb city (population 2,086) over allegations of illegal bingo operations. The freeze prevents all financial transactions, halting city services and employee payments.

The action stems from Jay's Charity Bingo's operations, where authorities discovered stolen bingo terminals still bearing AG office evidence stickers. These machines were previously seized from a Selma establishment but disappeared before a formal seizure order could be executed.

The AG's lawsuit claims Lipscomb is responsible for licensing Jay's Charity Bingo and receiving "illegal funding" from gambling operations. This follows a September incident where five individuals were arrested for third-degree burglary related to the stolen machines.

Mayor Tonja Baldwin expressed frustration, stating she's had to use personal funds for city operations: "I had to take my own money to pay someone because I could not write a check to pay the man."

The asset freeze will remain in effect until a December 2 court hearing. This enforcement action follows an October 2022 Alabama Supreme Court ruling that only traditional bingo games are legal in the state, with Marshall viewing electronic bingo machines as "a menace to public health, morals, safety, and welfare."

The AG's office demands all financial records from Lipscomb before considering unfreezing the city's assets.

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